Date   : Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:00:48 +0000 (WET)
From   : PCOGHLAN@... (Peter Coghlan)
Subject: Smoking ! !

>
>Just received Master from UK.  Changed electrical plug (from UK ?
>Australian, as I have for my other Acorns). After 30mins, the Power Pack
>started making a searing sound and then let out a huge puff of smoke.....any
>clues?
>

If it continued to run quite happily while the smoke issued, its likely that
your mains filter capacitor has died. This has been known to happen to Beebs
that have been stored for a while. Failure usually happens a short time after
they are put back into use.

>
>Anyone have a replacement Power Pack they would like to sell?
>

If you can solder, then you should be able to replace the capacitor yourself.
You can clip out the old one and the machine will run without it but it would
be better from a surge protection and interference emission point of view to
replace it. The faulty component will be obvious from its distressed appearance.
It is often yellow and block shaped.
 
>
>I had also be told that the capacitors in these old monitors could explode ?
>any truth to this?
>

I don't know what monitors you are referring to. I suppose capacitors in any
old monitors or any electronic equipment could explode.
 
>
>I do have children and I?m starting to question the safety of using these
>computers/ hardware.....not that I?ve had such a problem before tonight.
>

The capacitors in question (and power supplies in general) are designed to
fail in such a way that the possiblity of catching fire is remote.


                       Regards,
                          Peter.